The Bees-ness

     TEDI’s Meru Chapter is promoting a beekeeping project for 4 villages in the Kiteto District. Heavy population increases in the District have caused environmental degradation due to deforestation, soil erosion, and depletion of soil fertility. The families who become beekeepers will advocate against deforestation practices and other environmental hazards. Also, as beekeepers, they will be better able to meet the food, clothing, schooling, and health care needs of their families.
     Anglican dioceses on two continents are contributing to this initiative. The Environmental Conservation and Beekeeping Project of the Anglican Diocese of Mt. Kilimanjaro is providing training in beekeeping and equipment. The All Saints Cathedral of the Milwaukee Diocese of the Episcopal Church adopted the “Bees-ness” Project as its second quarter outreach project. TEDI Board member, Neil Radtke, and the outreach committee at All Saints produced an attractive gift card featuring a stained glass window at All Saints. The glass window shows a beehive and commemorates an Episcopal nun who is remembered as a “busy bee.” In July, 2004, TEDI sent $600 to Tanzania that had been raised at All Saints through gift card sales, to pay for beekeeping equipment, gloves, veils, smokers, boots, wheelbarrows and honey pressers.
     The gift card project developed by All Saints will inspire others to assist the beekeeping project. It demonstrates how a parish and its parishioners can support TEDI projects in Tanzania by offering alternative gifts for family and friends.